title: In vitro anticholinergic and antihistaminic activities of Acorus calamus Linn. leaves extracts.
abstract: The present investigation was aimed at determining the effects of hexane, acetone, methanol and aqueous extracts of Acorus calamus leaves (ACHE, ACAE, ACME and ACAQE) on cholinergic and histaminic system using isolated frog rectus abdominis muscle and guinea pig ileum. A dose dependent potentiation of Ach response (anticholinesterase like effect) was found with ACAE and ACME at 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1 mg/ml, but at higher dose of ACAE, ACME, ACAQE and ACHE (5, 20 mg/ml) inhibit the Ach response (antinicotinic effect). These results revealed biphasic effect of Acorus calamus leaves extracts on acetylcholine induced contractile response in isolated frog rectus abdominis muscle preparation (i.e. potentiation effect at lower dose and inhibitory effect at higher dose). Studies on isolated guinea pig ileum demonstrated antihistaminic effect in a dose dependent manner (100-1000 µg/ml) with ACAE, ACME and ACAQE. In addition, the dose dependent inhibition of Ach response (antimuscarinic effect) was observed with ACAE and ACME. In conclusion, Acorus calamus leaves extracts exerts antinicotinic, anticholinesterase like activities in isolated frog rectus abdominis muscle and antihistaminic, antimuscarinic effect in guinea pig ileum. It has been suggested that these observed activities can be further studied for therapeutic potential of Acorus calamus leaves in the treatment of cognitive disorders and asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, The Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.
authors.forename: Pandy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vijayapandi
authors.forename: VamsiKrishna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Annabathina
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: SivaNagaSrikanth
authors.forename: Vankadari
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Manjunath
authors.forename: Praveena
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boggavarapu
authors.forename: Ameen Kunhu
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Mohammed P
authors.forename: Konasani
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: RajendraPrasad
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Kumarappan
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D029023:Acorus; D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006632:Histamine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D017568:Rectus Abdominis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D027343:Rhizome
chemical_list: D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D010936:Plant Extracts; D006632:Histamine; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D000109:Acetylcholine
keywords: Sweet flag leaves; anticholinesterase; antimuscarinic; antinicotinic; biphasic effect; cumulative dose response